Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice For Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong (240 pages)
Dear Girls is a collection of absurdly funny and surprisingly moving love letters to Wong’s two daughters
I’ve always loved a good comedy, from SNL and In Living Color, to the movies and TV Shows of Carol Burnett, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler (to name a few). So when a friend at work (with whom I swap movie, book, and brunch recommendations with) told me about Ali Wong and Dear Girls, I was intrigued.
First, I tackled her “Baby Cobra” Netflix special and sat in awe as this petite, pregnant woman with huge glasses and the mouth of a sailor annihilated her set. It was amazing; something I had never seen before. I followed that belly-busting special with her other Netflix offering, “Hard Knock Wife”. So when I heard she had a new book coming out, adding it to my must-read list was a no brainer.
Sharp Wit and Surprisingly Moving
With chapters like “Tips on Giving Birth”, “Why I Went Back to Work”, and “A Guide to Asian Restaurants”, Wong covers everything her daughters need to know about life. She deep dives into the unpleasant (and extremely graphic) details of dating, how to be a working mom in a male-dominated profession, and how she “trapped” their dad.
To my pleasant surprise, behind her raunchiness (and foul language–don’t say I didn’t warn you!) was a heartfelt love and appreciation for her family, her culture, and the future she hopes to share with her girls. She’s honest about what it was like growing up with older parents and being 10 years younger than her siblings. She shares details about how she was a horrible teenager, listing the shameful things she did in her youth. But it’s her honesty and candidness that make her more lovable and relatable, while proving she’s just another human trying to figure out this whole motherhood thing.
The Bottom Line: 4/5 Brookie Stars
While I was expecting the foul language and gross-out details, I was touched by Wong’s underlying love and hope for her daughters and their future. And even though she tries to set the bar low in the book’s introduction with self-deprecating humour, Wong proves she’s got the wit, heart, and humour to tackle any challenge head-on. And since kids don’t listen as much as they watch, Wong’s daughters have an empowering example to follow.
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Andrea Querido is a 40-ish book-loving, introverted word nerd who’s passionate about connection, self-care, personal growth, creating community and, of course, books!
Favourite book: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Favourite brunch spot: Anywhere I don’t have to cook.
